River Forest
District 90  
Primer
October 2013    

Superintendent's Message
Diversity, SEL and the Whole Child

Dear Students, Parents, Faculty, and Staff,

 

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Willard students experienced an exciting morning of team building activities in September thanks to a donation from the PTO. 

I hope that you are enjoying the cooler autumn weather and that your family has had an excellent start to the school year.

 

As you are aware, the school district devoted a great deal of attention to our transition to the Common Core State Standards over the last two years.  However, District 90 is also focused on two additional important topics: valuing diversity within our school community and further establishing our Social Emotional Learning (SEL) initiative for students.

 

Both of these areas are important because they have a significant impact on our students' emotional health and the climate of our schools.They are an essential part of our mission to provide for the needs of the "whole child."  We feel a strong responsibility to our students' overall well being and providing for an optimal school culture that values and embraces the diversity within our school community. 

 

Our SEL curriculum, "Second Step," will be further implemented this year at the elementary level through the efforts of our social workers and classroom teachers.  At the middle school level, students receive the curriculum primarily through instruction in PE classes and special assembly programming.

 

This year, a new committee of parents and school administrators is also looking at the basic elements of diversity in our District. This includes the annual and ongoing formal cultural competency training we provide for our faculty and staff. In the coming months, the District intends to establish an effective structure to discuss diversity that will provide for broad involvement by the school community and include membership from our key stakeholder groups, including parents, faculty, staff, and students. 

 

Please know how much we value parents as our partners in education.  Together we ensure that our students will develop into confident, respectful, and self-actualized young people. More information will be forthcoming in the near future about SEL and efforts to better celebrate the diversity of our students and families.

 

As always, thank you for your support for our students and schools.

 

Respectfully,

 

Supt Signature  

Edward Condon, Ph.D. 

Superintendent
District News
Public Forum:
Proposed Roosevelt Exterior Pla
n  

A Public Forum for the discussion of the most current proposed Roosevelt exterior renovation plan will take place at 7 p.m., October 28 in the Roosevelt auditorium. All proposed plans, drawings and budgets are available for download on the District 90 website's Roosevelt Exterior Project page
Curriculum Spotlight  

We know that staying ahead of ongoing changes in the school curriculum can be a challenge for families. We continually strive to do our best to provide District 90 parents with information that is clear and useful in this regard. Toward that purpose, a new monthly Curriculum Spotlight in the Student Learning section of the District 90 website will provide key information about a selected curriculum or instructional topic. The first Spotlight topic this year is Common Core Literacy. To read the Spotlight, click here.
 
The Student Directory is Coming Soon
All families will be receiving a 2013-2014 Student Directory, including contact information for school staff, PTOs, and families. Watch for the Directory in October!
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In This Issue
Public Forum: Roosevelt Exterior Plan
Curriculum Spotlight
Student Directory is Coming Soon
Subscribe to News & Announcements
 
Important Dates
October 1

Committee of the Whole Meeting

7:00 p.m.

Roosevelt Middle School

 

October  

International Walk to School Month

Walk or bike to school all month


October 9

Walk/Bike to School Day

 

October 21

Superintendent's Open Office Hours 

District Office

5:30-6:30 p.m.

 

Board of Education Meeting

7:30 p.m.

Roosevelt Middle School

 

October 28  

Roosevelt Middle School Exterior Renovation Plan

Public Forum 

7:00 p.m.

Roosevelt Auditorium 

 

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Our
Mission
To deliver excellence in education through an unwavering commitment to the whole child.